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Nantas Slickskin wrote:If I bomb the knowledge check and the party doesn't mention it, it's information I have as a player and not as a character, though?
I would think that as Pathfinders you'd be hanging out with one another, swapping stories, giving suggestions, "You better get yourself a cold iron sword for when you're up against a demon, on my last adventure we encountered a ...", When you're in the adventure you're still going to need to make the knowledge check to know to switch to your cold iron weapon, but it makes sense that you would have one based off of suggestions from your peers.These characters are not the first ones out there discovering these things.
And in that case I would HAVE all the nifty stuff I bought per Painlord's recommendations, but continue to not know to use it.

Wei Ji the Learner |

And in that case I would HAVE all the nifty stuff I bought per Painlord's recommendations, but continue to not know to use it.
Which then prompts the question 'Why did you buy it in the first place if it is going to be nothing but an expensive weight in your bag?'
Mileage may vary, of course, I just cringe inwardly when folks do the old 'Star Wars Galaxies' -style info dump?
If my character has never encountered a thing, and would have had no reason to ask about it or listen closely to old tales about it, arguably it is cheating to use such knowledge I have as a player on my character's behalf, imo?

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Still disagree. As a scuba diver I talk about and prepare for things I have not yet seen, I have talked to other scuba divers about creatures they have seen and I have not. Would I recognize it when I see it? Maybe ... Where do those knowledge ranks come from? Do you only up a knowledge skill if you encountered a situation with that knowledge?
I am also a fire fighter, I talk about, train, and prepare for lots of things I hope to never see. Should my rpg fire fighter only know about a backdraft if he's been in one? I have never seen one, but I have been taught what to look for. Will I succeed my knowledge check when it happens? Maybe? But in either case I have the gear for it.
My characters buy the gear because it's the responsible thing for them to do as a contributor to the party and they know about it because they talk to other characters, study, pay attention, train, etc.
Knowing that you may need cold iron, silver, adamantine, etc and thus buying it "in case" is not cheating. Recognizing when to use it is another matter.

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I'd see the reasoning behind why a freshly built 1st level character wouldn't know that he needs a cold iron weapon if we were playing characters that were all village folk turned adventurers. We're not. We're Pathfinder agents. Each one of us has spent three years in character apprenticing at the Grand Lodge. We've learned the basics of what's out there. We've rubbed shoulders with legends, and they (usually) have a vested interest in us coming back alive with the goals accomplished. Don't you think that somewhere down the line, someone mentioned this all to us?

Wei Ji the Learner |

I'd see the reasoning behind why a freshly built 1st level character wouldn't know that he needs a cold iron weapon if we were playing characters that were all village folk turned adventurers. We're not. We're Pathfinder agents. Each one of us has spent three years in character apprenticing at the Grand Lodge. We've learned the basics of what's out there. We've rubbed shoulders with legends, and they (usually) have a vested interest in us coming back alive with the goals accomplished. Don't you think that somewhere down the line, someone mentioned this all to us?
If that's the case, then why do we need to make Knowledge rolls at the table or in a game for things like weaknesses, immunities, and the sort? Wouldn't all that have been covered in classes during those three years?

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Only for common things, not for the uncommon or rarer critters or monstrosities.

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From what I have seen in life with fellow students and such ... some are going to come out of Pathfinder Academy knowing they should buy some cold iron weapons and alchemists fire as soon as they can, and others will have done rather poorly in their studies and not know that a cure light wounds potion or wand is a smart idea.
If I ever dump intelligence maybe I'll play the former.
In all seriousness though ... knowing that cure wounds magics are useful, or that a cold iron weapon may be necessary sometime in the future is general knowledge that a good student would have. Knowing that a Babau demon is
As an aside, I usually increase some skills based off of build goals, and other skills based off of what has happened to the character. If they run into demons, I might do some knowledge planes. If there's alot of swimming, I might bump swim even though I had no intention to.

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I'd see the reasoning behind why a freshly built 1st level character wouldn't know that he needs a cold iron weapon if we were playing characters that were all village folk turned adventurers. We're not. We're Pathfinder agents. Each one of us has spent three years in character apprenticing at the Grand Lodge. We've learned the basics of what's out there. We've rubbed shoulders with legends, and they (usually) have a vested interest in us coming back alive with the goals accomplished. Don't you think that somewhere down the line, someone mentioned this all to us?
Makes sense except that our characters are depending on our-meaning their creators, the real people- knowledge, and if we are new- like 2 months new- it's difficult for our characters to act like they are graduates of 3 year apprenticeships as agents ;)

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Nikolai Vancaskerkin wrote:I'd see the reasoning behind why a freshly built 1st level character wouldn't know that he needs a cold iron weapon if we were playing characters that were all village folk turned adventurers. We're not. We're Pathfinder agents. Each one of us has spent three years in character apprenticing at the Grand Lodge. We've learned the basics of what's out there. We've rubbed shoulders with legends, and they (usually) have a vested interest in us coming back alive with the goals accomplished. Don't you think that somewhere down the line, someone mentioned this all to us?Makes sense except that our characters are depending on our-meaning their creators, the real people- knowledge, and if we are new- like 2 months new- it's difficult for our characters to act like they are graduates of 3 year apprenticeships as agents ;)
Consider these discussion boards that bar-room banter ... "What are you fighting with a steel short sword for ... you need a cold iron bardiche ... gives you greater reach, more damage, and good for some smack down on a demon!"
"And get yer'self some alchemists fire! For some reason the society loves sending us into swarms!"

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I do love the roleplay :) I'll get there some day :)

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I do love the roleplay :) I'll get there some day :)
What I love most about play-by-post is the ability to role play. You have the time to formulate in character answers and think about what your character would say or do. There is no real time constraint so you can say and do as much as you want without bogging down the table. In face to face it's more immediate and more time sensitive, so the role-play is different.
Anyplace with a lot of tables playing simultaneously like at a Con, it's very difficult to hear, and so role play is even more difficult.

Wei Ji the Learner |

Kendra_1 wrote:I do love the roleplay :) I'll get there some day :)What I love most about play-by-post is the ability to role play. You have the time to formulate in character answers and think about what your character would say or do. There is no real time constraint so you can say and do as much as you want without bogging down the table. In face to face it's more immediate and more time sensitive, so the role-play is different.
Anyplace with a lot of tables playing simultaneously like at a Con, it's very difficult to hear, and so role play is even more difficult.
Did have some VERY amusing rp go off at a couple of tables at a recent local convention in the Chicagoland area.
Of course, blowing the DC out of the water helped fuel it. Apparently we'd managed to circumvent some nasty situations because we were... exceedingly diplomatic. So we kind of rolled with it, and played it up.

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No, definitely don't read the scenarios, that's no fun. If yo GM and then play that's one thing, but I'd never spoil the surprises if I could help it!
Here's a great post on preparation.
Just got a chance to read this, and that in turn led me to some other neat threads.. good stuff all of it!
Just to clarify, the GM at my first games didn't give away the whole story..just went through the introduction and then specifically said "Ok.. so talk amongst you and prep"... Based on the good graces of the players in this current game, next time I won't be afraid to ASK them what they think my character might want to bring to the "table"... You all have much game playing wisdom and I should take advantage of that :)

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Well, Barry is dead...
Note Barry has evasion, so he saved from all the fire damage before Elenial. I don't know if that helps.

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Elenial Windwalker wrote:Well, Barry is dead...Note Barry has evasion, so he saved from all the fire damage before Elenial. I don't know if that helps.
Unfortunately not, he has 19 HP and a constitution score of 15. Total damage from Aoo + claw, claw, bite was 41.

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Pooor Barry.. :( (yeah not in your game, but assuming it's an animal.. always feel bad for them!).

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I'll be away from a computer from the 20th thru the 28th, and won't be able to move tokens during that time. Taking a vacation in Seattle where a certain convention is taking place......

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I'll be away from a computer from the 20th thru the 28th, and won't be able to move tokens during that time. Taking a vacation in Seattle where a certain convention is taking place......
Noooo! What will do without our happy little gnome?

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Triblin Runlark wrote:I'll be away from a computer from the 20th thru the 28th, and won't be able to move tokens during that time. Taking a vacation in Seattle where a certain convention is taking place......Noooo! What will do without our happy little gnome?
Use him as a shield.

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Oh, I'll be able to check in, I just won't be able to move pawns.
Besides, using me as a shield while underground isn't a bad thing.... You all just out pace me by twice my speed.

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That just gave me a character concept of a large dude with a gnome or dwarf strapped on his arm like a shield ... there's got to be a good teamwork feat or two for it ...

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It could work.....
Also, I found it funnny trying to beat Morlocs with other Morlocs as improvised weapons.... They died before I could start up the funsies though.

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Not sure, but how do I replace a dead animal companion? Just 'buy' another one? Sounds cruel...

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I don't have the core rule book on me as it's packed in my luggage at the moment, but I believe that's how it is if you don't want a special companion with extra tricks. I don't remember though.

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I think I found it, it's explained in the Druid section of the core rulebook. Elenial has to pray for 24h in a forest to call a new companion.

DM Kludde |

I ran into this in another game (as a player). A druid's animal companion (Melon the Roc) died. There was some background discussion, and even a mention of a raise dead. Here's the relevant quotes from the discussion:
This is from the PFS FAQIf you lose a companion during the course of a scenario, work with your GM for that scenario to properly note the loss on your Chronicle sheet. You should also note that you’ve gained your new companion. The new companion is ready for play in the next scenario after your previous companion died. Newly summoned animal companions begin play knowing a number of tricks equal to the bonus tricks granted based on your druid level. All other tricks require the use of Handle Animal to train the new animal companion as normal.
Here is the section from the core rule book.
If a druid releases her companion from service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer in the environment where the new companion typically lives. This ceremony can also replace an animal companion that has perished.
Did Melon know any additional tricks? You'll have to retrain those of it did. Other then marking it on the chronicle that should cover all the mechanical requirements, so flavor wise it could be the same Melon. I see no reason to charge 5000 gold for flavor.
You can teach any animal a trick so long as you follow the rules for Handle Animal on pages 97–98 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. A GM must observe your Handle Animal check, and must initial what tricks the animal gained in the "Conditions Gained" section of the scenario's Chronicle sheet. The first time a character with levels in druid, ranger, or any other class that grants an animal companion gains an animal companion, the animal enters play knowing its maximum number of tricks as dictated by the animal companion's Intelligence and the character's effective druid level. If the character replaces the animal companion for any reason, the new animal starts with no tricks known, save for bonus tricks granted based on the PC's effective druid level. Once per scenario, you may attempt to train the animal companion a number of times equal to the number of ranks you have in the Handle Animal skill. Each success allows you to teach the animal a single trick; a failed attempt counts against the total number of training attempts allowed per scenario, and you may not attempt to teach the same trick until the next scenario. Alternatively, you may train one animal for a single purpose as long as you have enough ranks in Handle Animal to train the animal in each trick learned as part of that purpose. You may take 10 on Handle Animal checks to teach an animal companion tricks.So it looks like new Melon can learn up to 3 tricks at the end + the 2 bonus tricks.

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Which means that Barry II. will know only as many tricks as my druid's level, which means 3 in my case, plus up to 4 tricks per scenario up to 6 tricks total, because of his Intelligence score of 2.

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That just gave me a character concept of a large dude with a gnome or dwarf strapped on his arm like a shield ... there's got to be a good teamwork feat or two for it ...
bwwahahah!.. Funny you should mention shield.. I was thinking I need someone to use as a shield so I can get closer to the battlefield to use my tanglefoot bags.. Triblin had come to mind, but he's a bit small to hide the tallish elf. Not quite the same, but think Gimley trying to hide Legolas...

Great Green God |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Not sure, but how do I replace a dead animal companion? Just 'buy' another one? Sounds cruel...
I would suggest a shelter companion rather than one gotten from a breeder, but that's a personal thing.

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..Eleventh hour creature rescue... hehe :)

DM Kludde |

It looks like we're nearly at the end for 5-07. Can I have the usual:
- Player name
- PFS#
- Day job
- Faction
- Anything you'd like to have signed off for your faction card

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5-07:
Player name: Gerard
PFS# 24861-6
Day job: None
Faction: Scarab Sages
Faction card: Participate in an adventure in Rahadoum
Can you also PM me what Osirion boon I missed? Just being curious.

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if Elenial survives
5-07:
Player name: Beatrice Pscheidl
PFS# 123480-1
Day job: Bowyer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Faction card: "Liberate one or more slaves, captives, or hostages during an adventure."

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Which means that Barry II. will know only as many tricks as my druid's level, which means 3 in my case, plus up to 4 tricks per scenario up to 6 tricks total, because of his Intelligence score of 2.
I thought I reacted, but apparently not.
Barry II will only know the bonus tricks from your druid level; at effective druid level 3 that is 2 bonus tricks.
In each scenario you can attempt to train him further, as many times as you have ranks in handle animal. The maximum number of tricks for Barry II is 8 (6 from Int 2 + 2 bonus tricks from Druid lvl 3). It's your choice to do that at the start or end of the scenario.
All CRB tricks have a difficulty of 15 or 20 to teach. That means that you can teach all CRB tricks by taking 10 on your handle animal (remember the +4 to handle animal checks for your animal companion from link).
If you want Barry II to know more intricate tricks (from animal archives) with a DC of 25 I suggest that you pick those tricks for the bonus tricks and teach the elemental tricks like "heel","stay" etcetera at the start of the next scenario.

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Unfortuntately Barry got killed within one claw, claw, bite attack.
Thanks for the clarification, I think I know now what I have to do :)
Edit: The Animal Archive seems interesting, I think I will buy it

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Thanks for the game Klude.
I will need the Day job updated in the chronicle.
Day job (perform sing): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
I don't know if it is needed to mark on the chronicle the Journal Card, Adventure out of Absalom.

caps |

Re: Segang expedition. None of my extant characters are available right now (caught me off guard a little).
I have been planning to roll up a Half-Orc Zen Archer and a Human or Half-Elf Divine Hunter (to multiclass with Unchained Summoner!). I should be able to do that sometime today or tomorrow; I'll wait a bit and see the party compposition before I decide, although it probably won't make too much difference since they're both archers.

caps |

Re: Segang expedition. None of my extant characters are available right now (caught me off guard a little).
I have been planning to roll up a Half-Orc Zen Archer and a Human or Half-Elf Divine Hunter (to multiclass with Unchained Summoner!). I should be able to do that sometime today or tomorrow; I'll wait a bit and see the party compposition before I decide, although it probably won't make too much difference since they're both archers.
DM Kludde, I see that the APL is 3+. If I play a level 1 character will I be able to "play up" as we do a higher tier? If not I'll play a lvl 4 pregen and apply the credit to another character so as not to bring down the APL. There are some pregens I'd like to try anyway.

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I will try and verify everything when I get home tonight. As aways thanks for another great run Kludde.

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For 5-07
Chasik
63386-4
day: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Faction: sovereign court

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Kyshkumen
28641-4
no day job
Sovereign court
I'll take the complete both success conditions while enhancing the Pathfinder reputation with another organization (Riftwardens).

Magabeus |

One last question. The new Barry starts with level 1 again, right?
The new Barry immediately advances to the level that the old Barry was, that's one of the perks of becoming an animal companion. Remember that you still can't give it Weapon Focus as it's first feat, since it starts with BaB 1.

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So.. New play trying to find her way around the battlefield:
So... Normal play is, I think:
Roll for attack hit/no hit,
Roll for damage,
If initial attack roll is natural 20 it MAY be critical, so
2nd d20 roll for critical hit confirmation, then, if successful,
2nd damage roll
Damage rolls added up for total damage...?
Another question, which may be for Kludde specifically:
I noted the number in parenthesis near the monster... is that number his DC or his HP, or something else?
I noticed it changed from a 7 to an 18.... which confused me...
Thanks in advance for the help!

chadius |

So.. New play trying to find her way around the battlefield:
So... Normal play is, I think:Roll for attack hit/no hit,
Roll for damage,If initial attack roll is natural 20 it MAY be critical, so
2nd d20 roll for critical hit confirmation, then, if successful,
2nd damage rollDamage rolls added up for total damage...?
Yup, that's how critical hits go. Roll a 20, then roll to hit again. The 20 will critically threaten, so you roll again to confirm the critical. If the second roll hits then you crit and can roll for extra critical damage. Even if you don't confirm the crit, you did hit normally.
Some weapons, like longswords can critically threat on a 19 or higher. The roll of 19 still needs to hit the target, though. Compare that to a 20, which ALWAYS hits.
The ooze you're fighting may be immune to critical hits, but DM Kludde will tell you if that's true.
Another question, which may be for Kludde specifically:
I noted the number in parenthesis near the monster... is that number his DC or his HP, or something else?I noticed it changed from a 7 to an 18.... which confused me...
Thanks in advance for the help!
DM Kludde usually puts the total damage dealt to a monster next to its name.

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@Chadius.. Thanks for the helpful info. Yeah, Kludde did tell me slime is immune to crits (darn!), but at least I know how to do it for sure..and now I know what the number in parentheses is, Thanks!