ooc: Silly question perhaps but if you take a double move, how can you cast a spell in the same round?

Tristram activates the magical devices around his ankles and is instantly transported right next to the hulking Cathain.

Round 6:
  [Free] Swift action activating anklets of translocation, move to P26
  [Move] After attack 5' step to P25
  [Standard] Attack (trip) 14, STR check 24, miss (39) ok
Status:
  Initiative: 15
  AC (Touch AC): 18 (13)

  Damage Taken: 7 (23)
  Damage Dealt: 0

Effects: Bulwark of defence (threatened squares treated as difficult terrain)
Bull's strength: +4 STR for 4 mins
Knight's challenge against Cathain: +1 attack & damage 2 rounds

Final position: P25
This message was last edited by the player at 10:15, Fri 26 Nov 2010.

I moved only ten feet, even for a dwarf that can be done in one action. Didn't check the post before hitting send :-P

ooc: I should have figured that. Another question: How does Tristram get +9 as strength mod? Does he have a 28 strength? Is he large to get +4? I know he should be around 20 due to Bull's strength but that's +5, where does the rest stem from? Because I might want that for Cathain too.

Ah! I had this idea that the chain granted a bonus, but it was for disarming and only +2. Please deduct 4 from the roll (I was looking at the sweeping enhancement and the living chain weapon when trying to find magic stuff I wanted, the bonuses these confer stuck in my head).

ooc: Never mind, I can't get the dice roller to roll a 12 when I need it. Cathain ends up prone - good job.

Different question: Shouldn't the spiritual weapon have the 20% miss chance too, it makes an attack roll, right? And does it move when Cathain moves or only upon command by the caster?

Re: spiritual weapon. It hits incorporeal creatures with impunity, and hits as a spell and not as a weapon. If this question was raised in my game I would rule it is unaffected by blur (it has no eyes). The caster needs to have line of sight to the target, IIRC.

ooc: Um yes, I read that, but when you hit with a ray you still have a miss chance, I thought this was the same with any attack roll required, especially since you need a line of sight.

Round 6: Tristram's sweep took Cathain in the wrong moment and she fell on her rump. The chain-wielder hissed. "So does your knightly code allow you to beat upon a fallen foe? Do you consider it fair when I cannot strike back properly?" she asked in her hoarse whisper.

  [Free] Delay.
  [Move]
  [Standard]

Status:
  Init: 6
  AC (Touch AC): 16 (11) - assign Dodge bonus vs. Tristram: 17 (12)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   Tristram 38 (-16 healed = 22pts.)

Effects:
 - Blur, 3mins - concealment - 20% miss chance
 - Enlarge Person, 05rds.

Final Position: Q/R 24/25

OOC: I apply the WIS modifyer, which in my mind is a gauge of how "smart" I can make the weapon. I wish the description could have been a little more explicit. Can it even make AoO's?

The ground shakes as the giant female hits the ground, prompting Gwendol to waddle forward, holding Orcsbane high and calling: Well done lad, now let 'er have it! before striking the prone figure hard. Likewise, the animated sword continues its attacks relentlessly, slashing across her legs.

Round 6:
  [Move]Move to P26, provoke AoO
  [Free]
  [Standard] Attack (pa -2, 17), damage (14), miss? (32), spiritual weapon (21), Damage (6)


Status: Shield of faith +2 deflection AC, 4 mins. Divine favour +2 to attack & damage 1 min.
  Spiritual weapon, 4 rounds
  Initiative: 2
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   25

Final position: P26
This message was last edited by the player at 12:25, Fri 26 Nov 2010.

"Honorable indeed..." Cathain said when Gwendol hit her and her chain snapped forth, passing by his armor underneath his armpit.

AoO: Attack 27 (-4 for being prone), damage 15pts.

Still delays to see Tristram's reaction.

Why, yes. I use my skill and strength to best you, wether it be by weakening you with wounds or gaining a tactical advantage. I attack you openly and have made clear my intentions, and I don't use any advantages my allies would grant me in the current situation. Let's just say for the case of this arguement that Gwendol here got a little too hot-headed and decides to grapple you. Naturally I would wait until you had duly crushed him and tossed him aside before engaging you in combat again. And besides, as my dear dwarven friend here can testify, you remain a lethal adversary.

Round 6 (delayed): "Ah but your friend boosted your strength or you would not have tripped me that easily. So how much help is he allowed to give you before a fair fight turns unfair?" she asked in her hoarse voice. Then she triggered the magic of her belt but the wounds healed were minimal.

  [Free]
  [Standard] Use healing belt: 1 charge - Cures 4pts. (I'm surprised I got more than snake eyes :P )
  [Move] Stand up - provokes AoO.

Status:
  Init: 6
  AC (Touch AC): 16 (11) - assign Dodge bonus vs. Tristram: 17 (12)

  Damage Taken:   11+14 (DR3/-) = 22, healed: 04 - Actual damage taken 18
  Damage Dealt:   Tristram 38 (-16 healed = 22pts.) / Gwendol 15

Effects:
 - Blur, 3mins - concealment - 20% miss chance
 - Enlarge Person, 04rds.

Final Position: Q/R 24/25

Cathain let out a raspy laugh "And to think, you ask me to come out of hiding and I do, but what do I get in turn: All three of you beating down on me!" she said, pointing out the magical weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:32, Fri 26 Nov 2010.

Maybe you should take up the Code yourself my dear, but then you would have to stop sneaking up on people. Tristram retorts while swinging his chain with awesome force into Cathain as she gets back up on her feet.

AoO: (23 - forgot +2 from bracers), damage (20), miss? 42

AoO: 19, damage 20, miss? 34

Total damage delt from AoO's: 40

Oh, and damage reduction does not work against spiritual weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Fri 26 Nov 2010.

Congrats - she's dead.

So now we see all your fears were for naught. You killed her in two rounds, was that so bad? And that's why she needs the shadows, as soon as she gave that away she could do nothing to you anymore.

Well, it was bound to be one-sided when I never missed a single d100 roll. I had the dice with me on this one, no doubt about it. Also, failing the trip attempt was the killer. Don't forget I also voluntarily nerfed Gwendol: besides the spiritual weapon he had no offensive spells, and spiritual weapon is a domain spell (Good grants Aid, which is close to useless IMO).

On the other hand: had you continued to be virtually undetectable I could have done nothing to stop your hit and fade. Trust me, I had nothing to counter that. My plan was to use summon monster to try and at least delay you slightly, but those have HP's enough for two hits only, and laughable offense.

I have to object. I have used her hiding skill only near the pillars, thus you always see her when she attacks, you ought to know since Quinlan used the same technique and he uses a bow, rather than a melee weapon where you have to come close. She didn't have any special attacks apart from leap attack which doesn't grant much apart from increased damage for reduced accuracy. With a mere +10 to hit she hasn't got the greatest offense either to make use of her PA feat but I cannot help that since she's got no spells or anything to really help with that.

And yes, the dice roller was with you this time, especially when Cathain fell and the blurr spell is near useless - I don't think I've seen anybody missing their attacks more than once. But poor dice rolls is the problem with basically every character I have :(

Gah AND I DIDN'T use DR vs spriritual weapon, dammit! - Gwendol dealt 14 pts regular damage and that is subject to DR!

If you don't like the 'Good Domain' why did you take it? Plus, you can always go for a different variant, ie. spontaneous domain caster.

Besides: You could have cast spiritual weapon three times and there's nothing I can do against that :(

Sorry about the DR remark, I just saw it myself.

No, that's not how hiding works. You hide near the pillar, then you move around undetectable since your stealth skills make you undetectable for Tristram and Gwendol. Blur grants you concealement always, which means you are hiding unless engaged in activities where hiding is impossible.

I haven't played her hiding like that and with being limited to the pillars as hiding places she couldn't have used it like invisibility. Besides: Almost everybody I've fought lately has tried using invisibility to at least get the drop on my character, so it is only a legitimate means of attack. She doesn't even get a bonus like sneak attack when she attacks from hiding, imagine her doing 3d6 additional damage... Hiding is her armor.

In any case you have made a wicked fighter. Charging is probably not a solid option unless you can reliably drop the target in one blow; that -2 AC is going to hurt. I'm surprised the Rhino hide armor doesn't work better than that. On the other hand, with those stealth skills and reach you don't need to charge. Take stand still or hold the line instead of leap attack and max out AoO's. Defensive sweep for example at higher levels...

Well, Cathain has +6 to attack with AoOs, there's little room for improvement there, though she could use some bonus to strength for tripping. I'm going to change her and get spring attack plus mithral breastplate. The latter is light and allows her to use tumble (hide armor doesn't) and she gets a 50ft speed - in other words she can hide in the shadows, move and attack, then move and get lost in the shadows again. - As long as there are shadows. Heh, perhaps I can find some 'oil of shadows' (other word for potion of darkness) and use it on some sling bullets to distribute as she wanders. I just hope my team mates can provide her with some magic so she can deal some real damage.

Why not take improved trip? You get a bonus, and a free attack on a prone target if you succeed. With increased size you can trip almost anything even quadrupedals up to your size at least. But yeah, with that high speed why not take spring attack, except that mobility is such a waste.

Well, I need mobility as prerequisite for Dread Commando - and mobility lowers the chances of being hit while she's moving around a lot. But I don't need combat expertise ... well only as prerequisite for improved trip :( That's what I consider a waste :P

Though I'll admit it would be cool to actually trip and attack at the same time. I guess it is a matter of focus: Moving, attacking and hiding in one go or tripping and attacking in one go. I like the image of the spiked chain coming out of the dark and retreating back into the dark better than the other... though I'd not object if she got both :D