The amazing adventure of one Riddywhipple

[Serisan]

The Minnesota lodge has a proud tradition of giving Riddywhipple the undeserved responsibility of a Rod of Wonder. Today, I GM'd a table with the most counterproductive faerie dragon I've ever encountered. Emerald Spire 14 spoilers are tagged below for context, but much of this is sufficient without.

Riddy acted prior to most of the party against the

Spoiler:

clockwork leviathan variant

and shot a stream of butterflies out, blinding much of the party. Despite this, the party killed it before it acted. As is typical for this magus, hilarity ensued in the aftermath.

Shortly thereafter, Riddy becomes Fine-sized. Hey Riddy, you're so fine! You're so fine you blow my mind, hey Riddy! *clap clap clap* Hey Riddy! *clap clap clap*. This is followed by a monster succeeding on a save vs Slow.

The single most useful action then happens during the

Spoiler:

Nhur Atheman

fight, in which he drops a spray of gems on some guys in a pit. Following this, he causes grass to sprout in the room and nearly blinds several members of the party with the colorful spray effect. Thankfully, he stops doing this shortly thereafter to try to help his unconscious master.

The party progresses to the

Spoiler:

conjurer room, though aided by the magus himself wearing the skulls of the apprentices

and Riddy lands a lightning bolt on several party members, then summons an elephant into the enclosed room. It is panicked by a stinking cloud effect and tramples the party until the cavalier successfully uses Handle Animal to calm it. The elephant cannot escape this room on its own and the rod does not emulate a spell - the elephant is there permanently unless removed. Flutter will be happy to know that the arcanist later teleported the elephant out of the spire...into an opera house in Oppara. After all of the dangers they've encountered thus far (including multiple recovered deaths), the party is now considering destroying the Rod of Wonder to prevent any further mishaps as there were concerns that the elephant would kill the 12th level party.

Thankfully, there are no further incidents before the party is able to escape this deathtrap.

So, what's your Riddywhipple story?

[BigNorseWolf]

The party was fighting a party of pathfinders turned ghouls (it happens enough that all ghouls are checked for wayfinders) and round 1 went.. BADLY for the party. Bad initiatives, the ghouls move up, paralyze. Move up, paralyze. Max duration on both.

Riddywhipple spends a round sniping with an improved caster level magic missile wand when one of the ghouls breaks out with some casting. After that

Riddlewhipple "Hey boss, you want me to try to blast her when she casts?

"Good idea! blast when she casts.

3 rounds of interrupted spells later , the caster dies. The familiar's human is at 2 hp, and so are most of the bad guys, and Riddlewhipple goes full on evil dead round after round finishing off the bad guys.

[The Morphling]

Completely without any intention of doing so on my part, no Riddywhipple has ever survived one of my tables. So far, every single time I get a faerie dragon in a party I'm GMing for, he will die to a phantasmal killer trap (this one has happened twice now), a paralysis-causing haunt while flying (leading to a 100 ft. fall), get eaten by a tentacle monster, or something equally unfortunate.

Everybody has gotten the poor dragon resurrected, and I always feel terrible afterwards. I decided that when my druid needed a suit of dragonscale armor, it was made of the mass of shed faerie dragon scales that Riddywhipple had lost in all the injuries he suffered at tables I had run.

[BigNorseWolf]

The Morphling wrote:

Completely without any intention of doing so on my part, no Riddywhipple has ever survived one of my tables. So far, every single time I get a faerie dragon in a party I'm GMing for, he will die to a phantasmal killer trap (this one has happened twice now), a paralysis-causing haunt while flying (leading to a 100 ft. fall), get eaten by a tentacle monster, or something equally unfortunate.

Everybody has gotten the poor dragon resurrected, and I always feel terrible afterwards. I decided that when my druid needed a suit of dragonscale armor, it was made of the mass of shed faerie dragon scales that Riddywhipple had lost in all the injuries he suffered at tables I had run.

I think you owe someone a refund :)

Immunities (Ex): Every dragon is immune to sleep and paralysis. In addition, a dragon is immune to additional forms of attack, as given in its description.

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural, +2 size)
hp 22 (3d12+3)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +5
Immune paralysis, sleep; SR 13

[andreww]

The Morphling wrote:

Completely without any intention of doing so on my part, no Riddywhipple has ever survived one of my tables. So far, every single time I get a faerie dragon in a party I'm GMing for, he will die to a phantasmal killer trap (this one has happened twice now), a paralysis-causing haunt while flying (leading to a 100 ft. fall), get eaten by a tentacle monster, or something equally unfortunate.

Everybody has gotten the poor dragon resurrected, and I always feel terrible afterwards. I decided that when my druid needed a suit of dragonscale armor, it was made of the mass of shed faerie dragon scales that Riddywhipple had lost in all the injuries he suffered at tables I had run.

I have only killed one Riddywhipple. I generally tell my players that while I wont go out of my way to target familiars if they are out and doing stuff they are valid targets.

Party provoked a fight with the end boss of a rather difficult season 6 scenario. One chain lightning later and poor Riddy was lying upside down on the cold stone floor.

He got better with a Raise Animal Companion after the scenario.

[Muser]

I've killed 2. Not the hardiest of familiars.

In my CotCT, the party's sorcerer has yet to do anything useful with a rod of wonder besides that one time he blinded a giant monster and half the party. Among his grand feats are:

* Casting darkness over a room full of flying, large darkvisioned monsters. Only two out of 5 party members could see.

* Summoning heavy rainfall inside a dungeon corridor. The escaping BBEG didn't mind. The ranged attacking co-adventurers sure did.

* Grassing a pit. It very pretty. Also in the middle of combat.

The rod's a hoot!

[Ascalaphus]

How come so many people are using that rod anyway?

[Serisan]

Ascalaphus wrote:

How come so many people are using that rod anyway?

At a player level, I think it's partially a response to the control-based meta of combat. From a character level, it's literally everything that a Riddywhipple wants in life.

[Tindalen]

Serisan wrote:

Ascalaphus wrote:

How come so many people are using that rod anyway?

At a player level, I think it's partially a response to the control-based meta of combat. From a character level, it's literally everything that a Riddywhipple wants in life.

Yup, and yup.

My riddywhiple has an archer familiar and has created some rather memorable experiences with his rod of wonder. One such experience was when we had Merisiel with us to fill out a table of three, part way into the scenario she was turned to stone. Before anyone could stop him riddywhipple targeted the Merisiel stone statue with the rod of wonder, **poof** goes the statue as stone to flesh cured her of her stiffness.

[Serisan]

Tindalen wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Ascalaphus wrote:

How come so many people are using that rod anyway?

At a player level, I think it's partially a response to the control-based meta of combat. From a character level, it's literally everything that a Riddywhipple wants in life.

Yup, and yup.

My riddywhiple has an archer familiar and has created some rather memorable experiences with his rod of wonder. One such experience was when we had Merisiel with us to fill out a table of three, part way into the scenario she was turned to stone. Before anyone could stop him riddywhipple targeted the Merisiel stone statue with the rod of wonder, **poof** goes the statue as stone to flesh cured her of her stiffness.

Poor Walter never gets any love.

[Woran]

Tindalen wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Ascalaphus wrote:

How come so many people are using that rod anyway?

At a player level, I think it's partially a response to the control-based meta of combat. From a character level, it's literally everything that a Riddywhipple wants in life.

Yup, and yup.

My riddywhiple has an archer familiar and has created some rather memorable experiences with his rod of wonder. One such experience was when we had Merisiel with us to fill out a table of three, part way into the scenario she was turned to stone. Before anyone could stop him riddywhipple targeted the Merisiel stone statue with the rod of wonder, **poof** goes the statue as stone to flesh cured her of her stiffness.

My riddywhiple has an elven whitch as a familiar. Things go OK untill somone feeds riddywhiple candy. Sugar rrrrrrrrrrrrush!

["Lucious" Lucius Vizinni]

So waiting for when Riddywhipple is ready for me. The "pimp dragon" will be liberal with his hits of euphoria gas! Gimme a hit, Riddy!

[Andrew Torgerud]

...
...
...
Lucius with Riddywipple...
...
...
Well - i quit. That is too scary an image for me.

[Fromper]

My level 6 sorceress is looking forward to trading out her familiar for Riddywhipple next level. After playing that adventure with a PC without a familiar, I made a point of GMing it and giving her the GM credit just so I could get him.

[Jeff Merola]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

[Fromper]

He's a sorcerer, with the ability to speak and hands with opposable thumbs. As far as I know, he should be able to use anything that a humanoid sorcerer could use, unless it requires being worn on a body slot that he doesn't have.

[Serisan]

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

[Lorewalker]

Serisan wrote:

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

In PFS it is intended that a familiar can not activate ANY magic item, except for wands with specific improved familiars.

[Malbraxis]

Riddiewipple has accompanied Malbraxis through bone keep, and other adventures.

In one occasion, the party was hard pressed by flying archers. Most everyone was down bleeding out, but Riddie, who read a scroll of obscuring mist and turned the tide.

[Serisan]

Lorewalker wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

In PFS it is intended that a familiar can not activate ANY magic item, except for wands with specific improved familiars.

Find me the text of that exemption. Would it be this? Turns out that the rod is slotless, too.

[Jeff Merola]

Serisan wrote:

Lorewalker wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

In PFS it is intended that a familiar can not activate ANY magic item, except for wands with specific improved familiars.

Find me the text of that exemption. Would it be this? Turns out that the rod is slotless, too.

It's just down the page from that one: "Wand use doesn't require the Animal Archive for these few improved familiars - brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars - gained with the Improved Familiar feat. They use their master's UMD when activating a wand.

No other activated item may be used, to include scrolls, by any animal companion, familiar, or improved familiar."

[Silbeg]

Andrew Torgerud wrote:

...

...
...
Lucius with Riddywipple...
...
...
Well - i quit. That is too scary an image for me.

If we are very lucky, it could happen by Paizo Con, but for sure by GenCon.

[Lorewalker]

Serisan wrote:

Lorewalker wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

In PFS it is intended that a familiar can not activate ANY magic item, except for wands with specific improved familiars.

Find me the text of that exemption. Would it be this? Turns out that the rod is slotless, too.

Mike's post that you linked is only to inform you that you don't need the familiar to take Extra Item Slot to be able to use wands. It does not grant those familiars use of all slotless magical items.

FAQd Here

"It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items. An animal companion could benefit from an item with a continuous magical effect like an amulet of natural armor if its master equipped the item for the animal companion. "
...
"An animal or familiar has to have an intelligence of 3+ to activate an ioun stone. If the animal or familiar has less than a 3 intelligence, they may not activate an ioun stone.

The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart. The carbuncle and voidworm protean, familiars granted by the Improved Familiar feat, uses the Serpentine section of the chart. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal companion may only use barding and neck-slot items."
...
Mike Brock
"Wand use doesn't require the Animal Archive for these few improved familiars - brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars - gained with the Improved Familiar feat. They use their master's UMD when activating a wand.

No other activated item may be used, to include scrolls, by any animal companion, familiar, or improved familiar."

[Serisan]

Lorewalker wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Lorewalker wrote:

Serisan wrote:

Jeff Merola wrote:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the only activatable magic items that Riddywhipple was allowed to use were wands.

That all depends on how you interpret a terribly written FAQ that does not delineate between animal companions, familiars, and improved familiars. If Riddywhipple can't use a Rod of Wonder, it's a remarkably fickle decision, as well, as using a wand actually requires more rigorous training than the rod.

Of course, a fickle decision would be in keeping with the Rod of Wonder.

In PFS it is intended that a familiar can not activate ANY magic item, except for wands with specific improved familiars.

Find me the text of that exemption. Would it be this? Turns out that the rod is slotless, too.

Mike's post that you linked is only to inform you that you don't need the familiar to take Extra Item Slot to be able to use wands. It does not grant those familiars use of all slotless magical items.

FAQd Here

"It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items. An animal companion could benefit from an item with a continuous magical effect like an amulet of natural armor if its master equipped the item for the animal companion. "
...
"An animal or familiar has to have an intelligence of 3+ to activate an ioun stone. If the animal or familiar has less than a 3 intelligence, they may not activate an ioun stone.

The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart. The carbuncle and voidworm protean, familiars granted by the Improved Familiar feat, uses the Serpentine section of the chart. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal...

That's what I get for not reading further down that page.

[Fromper]

But faerie dragons are sorcerers, so not being able to use scrolls doesn't make any sense. I can understand not letting them UMD a scroll, but why not cast a wiz/sorc spell from one?

I suspect Mike just forgot about that when posting to that thread. But he also forgot to update the FAQ with his ruling. I'm thinking we need a new thread to get the FAQ updated and ask current campaign management to overrule Mike's previous statement about Riddywhipple not being able to use scrolls.

[Serisan]

Fromper wrote:

But faerie dragons are sorcerers, so not being able to use scrolls doesn't make any sense. I can understand not letting them UMD a scroll, but why not cast a wiz/sorc spell from one?

I suspect Mike just forgot about that when posting to that thread. But he also forgot to update the FAQ with his ruling. I'm thinking we need a new thread to get the FAQ updated and ask current campaign management to overrule Mike's previous statement about Riddywhipple not being able to use scrolls.

I agree that Hide-and-Seek posts about this topic are not cool and I would like a campaign management review and re-FAQ. I don't care if it's "wands-only" as long as the faerie dragon gets the Rod of Wonder as a specific exemption. That item is literally designed with the little bugger in mind and it is in no way imbalanced.

[Wei Ji the Learner]

Serisan wrote:

I agree that Hide-and-Seek posts about this topic are not cool and I would like a campaign management review and re-FAQ. I don't care if it's "wands-only" as long as the faerie dragon gets the Rod of Wonder as a specific exemption. That item is literally designed with the little bugger in mind and it is in no way imbalanced.

Unfortunately, it could also REALLY be used to troll a party 'by accident', which could lead to those who don't have a sense of humor/playing in the last slot of a convention(etc) to think the person is 'being a jerk' 'by accident on purpose'. And there are players out there that would get a chuckle out of doing this.