7–98: Serpents' Ire (GM Prep & Discussion)


GM Discussion

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Grand Lodge 4/5

Elay Silverhair wrote:
I have a question about the "Joliryn's Foe" boon on the Chronicle. The character that I gave this GM credit to also has the "Spoils of the Siege (Joliryn)" boon from Serpent's Rise, so he has access to the Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing. He's also a 7th level Wizard with an Arcane Bonded Ring (no properties, yet). Can I upgrade his masterwork ring to a Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing by paying half of the 16,000gp price? He meets all of the requirements to do so, as far as I can tell.

I can offer no solid argument why this ring should behave any differently than a minor ring of spell storing, which has a cost half that of its price. Even if no one official chimes in, I doubt any GM would raise an eyebrow during an audit.

Scarab Sages 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Isles—Online

3 people marked this as a favorite.

I'm after a cheeky favour from someone who's run Serpents Ire.
I'm running it at Paizocon UK in 5 weeks time, and fancy building some 3D terrain as my players love it.

some of my previous work
images
images
images

However, we dont yet have the scenario added to our downloads
I know there is a custom map, and i'm after a copy so i can start on the terrain.

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

Nicely done Chris!

Dark Archive 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber
chris manning wrote:

I'm after a cheeky favour from someone who's run Serpents Ire.

I'm running it at Paizocon UK in 5 weeks time, and fancy building some 3D terrain as my players love it.

some of my previous work
images
images
images

However, we dont yet have the scenario added to our downloads
I know there is a custom map, and i'm after a copy so i can start on the terrain.

Chris, reach out to Tersha at GMail and talk, she's already extracted the map (and there's some FUNKY stuff with doing it for 3d!)

And hit me up at oni@tetsujinlabs.com too, this is another good one for 3ding the end fight.

3/5

Map question for D2

Spoiler:
The triangle pieces to the east and west (top and bottom). Are those large solid rock/wall with an observation deck on top OR are they triangular decks with open space below?

What are the dotted line on the triangle platforms? The walkway 'terminates' at the ladder, so I don't think they are a continuation of the walkway. They also don't correspond with the 12 pieces of furniture that go up and down. (I going to use my bar minis for these)

Thinking about building part of this 3D.

Thanks.

Grand Lodge 4/5

The dotted lines represent fixtures that are suspended on the ceiling and can be lowered to obstruct the PC's movement.

4/5 *

Nice terrain, Chris! I emailed Tonya about this very thing (getting maps for 3d terrain), and it sounds like scenario drops will happen quite soon - soon enough for me to stop worrying about getting stuff done in time for GenCon. (Not wanting to put an exact date out there in case something happens.)

Of the various specials, which ones will be good for 3d pieces? I was going to start working on Consortium Compact, but that's a "just in case" one, and I'd rather put the time into a special.

3/5

xebeche wrote:
The dotted lines represent fixtures that are suspended on the ceiling and can be lowered to obstruct the PC's movement.

It doesn't look that way to me. The 12 pieces of furniture are already accounted for with the other lines. It looks like a continuation of the walkway - but the text states the walkway ends.

Grand Lodge 5/5 Regional Venture-Coordinator, Baltic

Linda Zayas-Palmer wrote:
I'm watching this thread particularly closely, and taking notes for additional development before GenCon.

Will an updated version be available for PaizoConUK?

Will the GMs for PaizoConUK have the scenario added to their downloads soon? (Even an not-updated version will help people prep)

The Exchange 4/5 5/5

Swiftbrook wrote:

Map question for D2

triangle pieces to the east and west (top and bottom). Are those large solid rock/wall with an observation deck on top OR are they triangular decks with open space below?
What are the dotted line on the triangle platforms? The walkway 'terminates' at the ladder, so I don't think they are a continuation of the walkway. They also don't correspond with the 12 pieces of furniture that go up and down. (I going to use my bar minis for these)
Quote:
To both the east and west, the walkway terminates in twenty-foot ladders that lead to higher observation decks.

I believe the dotted lines represent the observation platforms. I'm not sure what height the "triangles" are supposed to be.

Grand Lodge 4/5

You can see the light gray triangles on the map. Each has a ladder on the north side (see compass rose).

Quote:
In order to maximize space in the room, most of the lab equipment is kept suspended in the air. By manipulating controls along the north partition, a creature can raise, lower, or rotate any number of these fixtures. In this way, the room can be reconfigured from a small library to a lab to an operating room. Kar Zaweeb has left an unseen servant here and can command it to raise and lower any of the features whose forms are outlined on the map.

Grand Lodge 5/5 5/55/5 ***

xebeche wrote:
Elay Silverhair wrote:
I have a question about the "Joliryn's Foe" boon on the Chronicle. The character that I gave this GM credit to also has the "Spoils of the Siege (Joliryn)" boon from Serpent's Rise, so he has access to the Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing. He's also a 7th level Wizard with an Arcane Bonded Ring (no properties, yet). Can I upgrade his masterwork ring to a Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing by paying half of the 16,000gp price? He meets all of the requirements to do so, as far as I can tell.
I can offer no solid argument why this ring should behave any differently than a minor ring of spell storing, which has a cost half that of its price. Even if no one official chimes in, I doubt any GM would raise an eyebrow during an audit.

Just wanted to try one last attempt to get opinions before I play this character next week.

Yay? Nay?

5/5

Elay Silverhair wrote:
xebeche wrote:
Elay Silverhair wrote:
I have a question about the "Joliryn's Foe" boon on the Chronicle. The character that I gave this GM credit to also has the "Spoils of the Siege (Joliryn)" boon from Serpent's Rise, so he has access to the Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing. He's also a 7th level Wizard with an Arcane Bonded Ring (no properties, yet). Can I upgrade his masterwork ring to a Wrathful Ring of Spell Storing by paying half of the 16,000gp price? He meets all of the requirements to do so, as far as I can tell.
I can offer no solid argument why this ring should behave any differently than a minor ring of spell storing, which has a cost half that of its price. Even if no one official chimes in, I doubt any GM would raise an eyebrow during an audit.

Just wanted to try one last attempt to get opinions before I play this character next week.

Yay? Nay?

Yay, you have the process exactly right. Just remember you can only empower 1st and 2nd level spells with it.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Contributor

1 person marked this as a favorite.
xebeche wrote:
Hitting the prep hard this weekend. I'll try to get statblocks and reflections posted in a couple of days for those with limited time before the convention.

Xebeche - just wanted to say thank you for the prep documents. I just got my #7-98 downloaded about an hour ago, and your docs are going to be amazingly helpful!

Thank you!!!

5/5 5/55/55/5

Just got this in the downloads. WOOT!

Can it be run before gencon to get the kinks out (since it ran at paizocon) or do the geeks here have to wait till after i get back and un concrudded?

Silver Crusade 5/5

It's off-limits until at least after Gencon.

The Exchange 5/5 Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Just got this in the downloads. WOOT!

Can it be run before gencon to get the kinks out (since it ran at paizocon) or do the geeks here have to wait till after i get back and un concrudded?

Yes off limits before GenCon apart from at Paizocon UK on the 23rd July.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Contributor

Question about the end of Part 1. The text says 2 Guards+, but the stat blocks suggest it's 3 Guards+. Since Red Alert replaces the encounter in Area B (which has 3 Guards+) that's my guess - but I wanted to check. Thanks in advance!

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ***

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Learning level 8 characters right at the beginning of a slot can be tough, but with these handouts, it can be easier!

Silver Crusade 5/5

James McTeague wrote:
Learning level 8 characters right at the beginning of a slot can be tough, but with these handouts, it can be easier!

James, this is just ine of the many reasons that you are awesome! I know I'm going to be bringing those with me to GenCon.

I just got a chance to read through this, and holy hell! This scenario looks so cool! I can't wait to run it at Gencon, and locally afterwards!

Grand Lodge 4/5

James McTeague wrote:
Learning level 8 characters right at the beginning of a slot can be tough, but with these handouts, it can be easier!

I used these at PaizoCon. They are amazing! Thank you :)

4/5

I still have questions concerning the layout of the final room. Here are the relevant parts described:

Quote:

...this laboratory has an arched ceiling that soars to a height of fifty feet. The room constricts near the middle where a low, stepped platform formally partitions the two halves. To the north, a narrow metal walkway hugs the walls about five feet above the open workspace. To both the east and west, the walkway terminates in twenty-foot ladders that lead to higher observation decks. Easily three labs’ worth of tables, shelves, and other heavy equipment hovers thirty feet off the floor, suspended by chains. Beyond to the south, lies a circular, elevated platform with a curving set of stairs.

By manipulating controls along the north partition, a creature can raise, lower, or rotate any number of these fixtures.

A PC adjacent to the control panel can choose to raise or lower a feature as a move action, though doing so is at first a matter of trial and error; randomly determine which of the twelve features moves.

What is clear:

• The walkways end at the ladders.
• The triangle portions are “observation decks” 20 feet above the walkway (and thus 25 feet above the open workspace), which seems to indicate that someone can walk underneath them.
• There are 12 features that can move.
• The dotted lines that are above the main “open workspace” seem to add up to those 12 features.

What is not clear:

What are the dotted lines within (above or below?) the two triangular observation decks? They don’t seem to be a part of the 12 items since those are accounted for. They look mostly like a continuation of the walkway that leads to smaller triangular areas underneath the larger ones, but the text says the walkway ends at the ladders, and the ladders also block most of the space to get past anyway. If these are areas that can be raised and lowered, are they underneath the observation decks or above?

A few other questions:

Quote:
By manipulating controls along the north partition...

What “north partition” is being referred to? I notice that the north side of the eastern triangle is different than the other sides, as though there’s something there, but nowhere are there any obvious controls.

How high is the circular platform? Judging by the number of steps it would seem 7-8 feet is about right.

Finally, a minor point, but if the observation decks are open underneath, then I would assume the set of 3 steps in the center come to a point at each end and someone could just walk around them to the east or west.

3/5

Findas wrote:

I still have questions concerning the layout of the final room. Here are the relevant parts described:

Quote:

...this laboratory has an arched ceiling that soars to a height of fifty feet. The room constricts near the middle where a low, stepped platform formally partitions the two halves. To the north, a narrow metal walkway hugs the walls about five feet above the open workspace. To both the east and west, the walkway terminates in twenty-foot ladders that lead to higher observation decks. Easily three labs’ worth of tables, shelves, and other heavy equipment hovers thirty feet off the floor, suspended by chains. Beyond to the south, lies a circular, elevated platform with a curving set of stairs.

By manipulating controls along the north partition, a creature can raise, lower, or rotate any number of these fixtures.

A PC adjacent to the control panel can choose to raise or lower a feature as a move action, though doing so is at first a matter of trial and error; randomly determine which of the twelve features moves.

What is clear:

• The walkways end at the ladders.
• The triangle portions are “observation decks” 20 feet above the walkway (and thus 25 feet above the open workspace), which seems to indicate that someone can walk underneath them.
• There are 12 features that can move.
• The dotted lines that are above the main “open workspace” seem to add up to those 12 features.

What is not clear:

What are the dotted lines within (above or below?) the two triangular observation decks? They don’t seem to be a part of the 12 items since those are accounted for. They look mostly like a continuation of the walkway that leads to smaller triangular areas underneath the larger ones, but the text says the walkway ends at the ladders, and the ladders also block most of the space to get past anyway. If these are areas that can be raised and lowered, are they underneath the observation decks or above?

Emphasis mine.

Relevant Room Description "The room constricts near the middle where a low, stepped platform formally partitions the two halves."

I don't think that the two triangles are platforms that hang above the room. I think they are solid. If they're not solid then the room can not be divided into two halves. Also, that also makes sense with the text stating that "the walkway terminates in twenty-foot ladder".

You're spot on with your dotted line description. I still have no idea what the dotted lines on the two triangles represent. If I were to guess (and only a guess), I'd speculate the dotted lines represent something left over from an earlier version of the room.

The Exchange 5/5 Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The two white triangles are walls/solid areas that go up 25 feet. I think the observation decks are on top of them (as indicated by the additional dotted lines over them) and they can be reached by the ladders from the walkways. The decks seem to be walkway ending in a triangular area, so I assume the dotted lines indicate a railing perhaps.

The controls for the lab equipment are the 'different' element on the north side of the triangle.

Dark Archive 4/5 *

Running this at GenCon - Will the pregens be provided or should I print them out and bring them myself?

Grand Lodge 4/5

CigarPete wrote:
Running this at GenCon - Will the pregens be provided or should I print them out and bring them myself?

Pregens were provided at PaizoCon. I suspect they will be provided at GenCon as well.

Grand Lodge 5/5 Regional Venture-Coordinator, Baltic

1 person marked this as a favorite.
xebeche wrote:
CigarPete wrote:
Running this at GenCon - Will the pregens be provided or should I print them out and bring them myself?
Pregens were provided at PaizoCon. I suspect they will be provided at GenCon as well.

I think the Pregens provided were black and white prints. If you want to go the extra mile, you can print them out for your players in color yourself.

3/5

6 people marked this as a favorite.

Thanks xebeche for your excellent work.

I’ve created some “Evidence Cards” to provide to the players as they earn evidence points. The cards contain notes and some background information that generally only the GMs get to see. I hope these will get the players more involved in the evidence gathering and adventure.

GM Prep - Serpent's Ire

Dark Archive 5/5 *

Xebeche----- thanks a million for all that hard work with the prep.
Printed out all your prep, scenario, etc.
Beginning prep now. You have eliminated hrs from the hrs it will still take.
Thank you again.

3/5

In the final encounter area:

Spoiler:
What if the BBEG uses the tactic of dropping a piece of furniture/lab equipment on a PC. What should I do? Roll a to hit? Reflex save? What kind of damage?

If a piece of equipment has been successfully dropped on a PC, what do they need to do to escape? Str check and DC? Escape Artist?

Grand Lodge 4/5

Swiftbrook wrote:
In the final encounter area:** spoiler omitted **

I ran it by dropping pieces into square that were unoccupied.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Folks,

I'm glad the resources are seeing use. There's been a lot of good stuff to come out of this thread. I hope this goes well at GenCon as a result :)

4/5

I'll just add my thanks to xebeche, James McTeague, and Swiftbrook for their resources. Much appreciated!

4/5

Swiftbrook wrote:

Relevant Room Description "The room constricts near the middle where a low, stepped platform formally partitions the two halves."

I don't think that the two triangles are platforms that hang above the room. I think they are solid. If they're not solid then the room can not be divided into two halves. Also, that also makes sense with the text stating that "the walkway terminates in twenty-foot ladder".

You're spot on with your dotted line description. I still have no idea what the dotted lines on the two triangles represent. If I were to guess (and only a guess), I'd speculate the dotted lines represent something left over from an earlier version of the room.

Thanks for the clarifications. I think you're right that the two triangles are solid. I'm also inclined to go with your guess that the dotted lines there are artifacts left over from something else and just ignore them - it makes things easier all around.

David Harrison wrote:
The controls for the lab equipment are the 'different' element on the north side of the triangle.

That makes sense, thanks Dave.

Dark Archive 5/5 *

Swiftbrook wrote:
In the final encounter area:** spoiler omitted **

There are rules for falling objects in the core rulebook. You need to make an attack roll. Its all there on how to handle this.

Grand Lodge 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber
Swiftbrook wrote:
In the final encounter area:** spoiler omitted **

My reading of the scenario, is that unless the villain is breaking the chains, the furniture falls at a non-dangerous speed. That PCs are shunted to an adjacent square for no movement cost/danger. The purpose is to shift the battle field and make for chaos, not weaponize the room.

page 28 wrote:
Features rise and fall slowly enough that they do not cause damage; a creature is instead displaced in the direction of its choice.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber

Two questions:
1. The Bureau Mage has a ring of counterspells, what spell is it charged with?
2. Joliryn's ring, is the Fireball it is loaded with count as empowered?

3/5

Geoffrey Peart wrote:
Swiftbrook wrote:
In the final encounter area:** spoiler omitted **

My reading of the scenario, is that unless the villain is breaking the chains, the furniture falls at a non-dangerous speed. That PCs are shunted to an adjacent square for no movement cost/danger. The purpose is to shift the battle field and make for chaos, not weaponize the room.

page 28 wrote:
Features rise and fall slowly enough that they do not cause damage; a creature is instead displaced in the direction of its choice.

Thanks GP. Obviously I missed that.

The Exchange 4/5 5/55/5 *

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I got an Ebay order of various minis delivered today and I immediately started work on my custom Dr. Zaweeb for Gencon. I still need to add some more accents and then paint him up, to say nothing of the mini that I was going to take the legs off of that was not included in my order...

Stay tuned for more, same Aspis-time, same Aspis-channel!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143223852@N06/shares/04eu4M

3/5

JERRY WAYNE 333 wrote:

I got an Ebay order of various minis delivered today and I immediately started work on my custom Dr. Zaweeb for Gencon. I still need to add some more accents and then paint him up, to say nothing of the mini that I was going to take the legs off of that was not included in my order...

Stay tuned for more, same Aspis-time, same Aspis-channel!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143223852@N06/shares/04eu4M

OK, you should be banned from GenCon. Deliberately making all us hard working GMs look bad. I'm hoping just to be able to make a pawn of him. That mini is going to look awesome!

Grand Lodge 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
JERRY WAYNE 333 wrote:

I got an Ebay order of various minis delivered today and I immediately started work on my custom Dr. Zaweeb for Gencon. I still need to add some more accents and then paint him up, to say nothing of the mini that I was going to take the legs off of that was not included in my order...

Stay tuned for more, same Aspis-time, same Aspis-channel!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143223852@N06/shares/04eu4M

This is fantastic! Make sure to keep an eye on pacing so you don't have to rush the final encounter. Let the PCs marvel in glory at your creation :)

The Exchange 4/5 5/55/5 *

Swiftbrook wrote:
JERRY WAYNE 333 wrote:

I got an Ebay order of various minis delivered today and I immediately started work on my custom Dr. Zaweeb for Gencon. I still need to add some more accents and then paint him up, to say nothing of the mini that I was going to take the legs off of that was not included in my order...

Stay tuned for more, same Aspis-time, same Aspis-channel!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143223852@N06/shares/04eu4M

OK, you should be banned from GenCon. Deliberately making all us hard working GMs look bad. I'm hoping just to be able to make a pawn of him. That mini is going to look awesome!

Maybe I shouldn't mention that I have a custom mini in the works for the su beast and am putting together a 3D terrain map for the final room...

For real, I very much appreciate the compliment. My goal is to do what I can to make sure the players are getting their money's worth and try to make this hobby relevant in their minds a little while longer. It's a tough industry, lots of things competing for people's money & time for recreational hobbies, you know?

The Exchange 4/5 5/55/5 *

I have another tidbit of info for anyone running this scenario about a premade miniature for one of the creatures in it. There IS a premade mini for Aaog Shagga the neh thalggu creature released, it was in the Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous mini set and it was listed under the name, "Dominion Invader". I just got mine the other day and it is gorgeous in a butt-ugly way! I love the little brains on its back under the transparent bubbles, the thing is fantastic. Snag one from your favorite single minis seller or Ebay while there's time to get it delivered before Gencon.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Dominion-Invader-Wrath-Righteous-48-Pathfinder-Battle s-D-D-Miniature-/322154443998?nav=SEARCH

5/5

Geoffrey Peart wrote:

Two questions:

1. The Bureau Mage has a ring of counterspells, what spell is it charged with?
2. Joliryn's ring, is the Fireball it is loaded with count as empowered?

1. Probably pick one that he can cast.

2. It can't be empowered, it only reduces the cost by one, and can only store a L.3 spell.

3/5

OK, I'm at a loss. From everything I've read, this looks like its going to be a great adventure. However, I need ideas how to play the BBEG.

Spoiler:
"... leaps from hanging bookshelf to suspended tables in order to keep out of reach while debilitating the PCs."

I've never played a psychic and I may have seen one in played once, so this line doesn't help me run him. I don't want the final encounter for this adventure at my table to be dull and boring. I just need some ideas what are the best attacks/actions for this psychic.

Any help and ideas are greatly appreciated. The Stat Blocks and Adventures Notes from the GMPrep site have been very helpful - having the spells and abilities right there with the creatures. Thanks.

The Exchange 5/5 Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean

I am currently thinking:

spoiler:
play him as suitably creepy and almost as damaged as anybody else in this place. He was a subject before becoming a researcher. He's definitely not human in any sense. He's a scary mutant man-spider. Coldly clinical. Treat the PCs as interesting subjects. "Let's see what lies in your subconscious..... ego whip!" And then cursing his infirmities when a spasm hits.

Grand Lodge 4/5

He is not terribly dangerous and it is unlikely that anyone will die. His spells primarily delay, paralyze, confuse, and tickle the NPCs. I agree with David's interpretation suggestions!

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Contributor

Mike Bramnik wrote:
Question about the end of Part 1. The text says 2 Guards+, but the stat blocks suggest it's 3 Guards+. Since Red Alert replaces the encounter in Area B (which has 3 Guards+) that's my guess - but I wanted to check. Thanks in advance!

Just bumping this since it seems to have been lost in all the posts since Gen Con GMs got this dropped to their accounts.

Dark Archive 5/5 *

Gotta be 3 guards and a mage. There are that many placed on map in area b.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Contributor

joe kirner wrote:
Gotta be 3 guards and a mage. There are that many placed on map in area b.

Not really what I was asking, since there is no map for the "red alert" encounter during part 1.

However, in opening up the scenario again I just this time noticed the language in the 4 player adjustment being "the remaining guards", which suggests that my original assumption was correct and that the "Creatures" paragraph on page 15 is just a typo.

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