Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia
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In the conclusion, the members of the team are given a specific item if they met certain criteria. That item is not on the Chronicle Sheet. I would like to know if it should or should not be there. If it should not be on the Chronicle Sheet, let me say in advance that is totally silly to gift them the item and then not list it on the chronicle sheet. If it should be on there, thank you. That is a worthy reward for the players.
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Its not on the chronicle sheet because its an uncommon item that all PFS characters already have access to by virtue of belonging to the Society.
That makes sense to me.
What doesn't make sense is giving it at the end of the scenario when you don't get to use it unless you buy it, and you already had access. If the intent was to remind players about some cool options out there, then give them one at the start of the scenario for them to use during and see if they like it.
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Agreed. It should have been included on the sheet with a slight reduction in price to reflect it being a "prize" awarded by a Venture-Captain. Putting it in the conclusion knowing that it has no impact on the scenario whatsoever and is an item all the PCs already have access to being as they are 5th level just to play the scenario seems like a fairly poor development decision.
With respect to the Dead Organ and how it interacts with the sanctuary spell Doctor Velshun has going, is the intention that he can use a Discordant Blast without breaking the spell? It is clearly an hostile action, but our GM felt it was intended that since it was the organ that did the action, not the Doctor that it didn't interfere with the spell. Is that the intention? If not, no worries, odd rules combos are likely in 2E since the rules for monster creation are so much more fluid so GM misunderstandings are going to happen. However, if it is intended that he can do it without violating the rules of sanctuary it seems like an awful big exploit to allow.
I agree the item should have been on the chronicle, maybe at a discount. We've seen many items on chronciles before that were accessible anyway, just to showcase them. I'm reasonably sure that not putting it on the chronicle is just an oversight, there is just absolutely no point otherwise to specifically giving the PCs this item, instead of just gp as a treasure bundle. Compare Quest 3, where the exact same thing happens, the PCs receive an otherwise available (common in that case) item as a reward at the end of the adventure, but there it is listed on the chronicle.
With regard to the organ, I'm confident that the intent is exctly that: the doctor is difficult to attack by the PCs while he's sitting at and playing the organ, laughing manically and having the mobs perform their macabre dance to his tune. I agree, it's mechanically dodgy not to consider some of his playing "hostile actions", not even just the blast, but also the "all zombies attack" tune. Still, it makes for such a hilarious scene, I'd honestly have been happy to have him be completely invulnerable while the members of his "ballet" are still "alive".
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I stumbled across the 'playing the organ' and hostile actions as well. I did make the ruling on the fly that sanctuary was kept (group was doing well and we had enough time - so I felt that would make the game better and I rather keep the flow and look it up afterwards).
It seems to make more sense that way - but I felt I was doing a dodgy rules call in favour of the doctor here. SO a clarification would be nice in case a ruling like that would ever result in the later deaths of a character.
Sanctuary didn't last long as one of my players used dispel magic afterwards - so that problem was solved nearly instantaneously on my table ...
A different issue: what constitutes 10 feet away from the organ. I'm not an English natural speaker (or musician). The area where Dr Felshun plays the instrument, the area in front of the pipes - or both?
I had Valeros Pregen climbing up using grappling hook and combat climbing - so I used the discordant note to 'blast him away' to theatrical laughter by everyone else.
But I could have blasted the rogue away instead who was trying to disable the pipes.
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I stumbled across the 'playing the organ' and hostile actions as well. I did make the ruling on the fly that sanctuary was kept (group was doing well and we had enough time - so I felt that would make the game better and I rather keep the flow and look it up afterwards).
It seems to make more sense that way - but I felt I was doing a dodgy rules call in favour of the doctor here. SO a clarification would be nice in case a ruling like that would ever result in the later deaths of a character.
Sanctuary didn't last long as one of my players used dispel magic afterwards - so that problem was solved nearly instantaneously on my table ...
A different issue: what constitutes 10 feet away from the organ. I'm not an English natural speaker (or musician). The area where Dr Felshun plays the instrument, the area in front of the pipes - or both?
I had Valeros Pregen climbing up using grappling hook and combat climbing - so I used the discordant note to 'blast him away' to theatrical laughter by everyone else.
But I could have blasted the rogue away instead who was trying to disable the pipes.
Thod was my GM for this adventure (Great job, BTW!)
I think the decision to treat the organ as taking the hostile action is the correct one. It keeps the feel of the adventure in place.
And yes, Valeros flying off the keys was hilarious!
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Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia
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I am inclined to go with the organ as well.
This was a great scenario. I loaded up some Phantom of the Opera music to use with Syrinscape for it and the players liked it.
I didn't catch the Wayfinder being available to all Pathfinder agents, but it just seemed so chintzy to give one to everyone and not see it on the sheet. It represented a Treasure Bundle which differs for each player on a level basis, but still. It's 200 gp and a level 6 item, so had it been listed on the sheet, a L5 character could have acquired it. Yes, a reduced priced would be nice as well.
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Im just not a fan of negating a specific feature of an established rule by narrative whim. Sanctuary has a very specific set of rules how it works. At least one of the organ actions is clearly a hostile one. I’m in favor of having “variant” enemies with unexpected abilities, but that can be as much an art form as authoring. However, abandoning the fundamentals of an established rule is not the way to do it, IMO. Of course, ymmv
Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden
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Having played this, I would say, it's fine if the zombies don't break the sanctuary, because you can fight back against the zombies. But the sound blast not breaking it is dripping cheese.
Consider that the doctor's save DCs are pretty high - DC 29 at high tier (31 if he gets the elite adjustment). There's a substantial chance of critically failing the save against that sanctuary, and then you can't attack him anymore unless the sanctuary breaks. If he can meanwhile keep blasting notes at you - that feels just plain unfair.
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I have a question about something at high tier.
thanks!