I'm new to this (on my first character with an animal companion) but:



Seek DC 15, rolled Handle animal (18).

I didn't question the handle animal thing, but take a hunting dog - they show the target with a certain pose, if you ever saw that, indicating where the prey is located. How does a bat do that from 15ft distance and up in the air? I haven't checked if it can hover or if it has any way of indicating where Cathain is hiding.

What I mean is: It is not precise - unless the bat goes down to hover in front of Cathain's face.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:34, Fri 15 Apr 2011.

Circle above your head? Squeak angrily? Quinlan has enough ranks in the skill to understand it (in relation to the tricks of Handle Animal).

ooc: I guess it is like catching a ball that's coming down from height. It can be difficult to adjucate the right place where it comes down (see Baseball) but alas, how about we agree to a 10x10ft square if the bat finds Cathain? On a different note: Neither you nor the bat have passed Cathain within 20ft, yet.

Cathain moved on, stowing her weapon and quietly passing rows and rows of books...

Round 7:

  [Free] Assign Dodge vs. Quinlan
  [Standard] Stow spiked chain.
  [Move] to? Move Silently 25. Hide 33.

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 38/healed 29/current 9pts [DR2/- 8pts of 30 absorbed (Ironguard Crystal)]
  Damage Dealt: 10

Effects:

 - Blurr, 20% miss chance, 3 mins.
 - Listen bonus +10, 1 hour.
 - Blindfighting feat: Keeps dex to AC in melee.

Final position ?

Quinlan continues forward, with the bat leading the way, this time singing a new song intended to increase the capabilities of the animal.

OOC: Blindsense isn't very precise: you still keep concealment. Slightly better than scent.

Round 7:
  [Swift]
  [Free] Spot fail, listen? Don't even bother
  [Move] Move to G13
  [Standard]Inspire competence (+2 to skills of allies)
  [Immediate]

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken: 0 (10 healed)
  Damage Dealt: 58

Effects:
+2 Natural AC, 40 mins
Inspire courage: +3 to attack & damage, +4 to save vs fear & charms, 1 min from Lingering song

Final position: G13

Bat
  [Free] Squeak, spot? nope, Listen? no way!
  [Move] Move to E14 (flying at 10')
  [Standard]Depends, is Cathain detected?

  AC (Touch AC): 16 (16)

  Damage Taken:
  Damage Dealt:
Final position: E14

Cathain moved on, quietly, like the assassin she had been trained to become. Eventually she took the bow from her back and knocked an arrow.

ooc: You still haven't passed her position.

Round 7:

  [Free] Assign Dodge vs. Quinlan
  [Move] to? Move Silently 22. Hide 27.
  [Standard] ready bow

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 36/healed 29/current 7pts [DR2/- 8pts of 30 absorbed (Ironguard Crystal)]
  Damage Dealt: 10

Effects:

 - Blurr, 20% miss chance, 3 mins.
 - Listen bonus +10, 1 hour.
 - Blindfighting feat: Keeps dex to AC in melee.

Final position ?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:45, Fri 15 Apr 2011.

Round 8:
  [Swift]
  [Free] Spot fail, listen? Don't even bother
  [Move] Move to F08 (unless interrupted)
  [Standard]Ready action
  [Immediate]

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken: 0 (10 healed)
  Damage Dealt: 44

Effects:
+2 Natural AC, 40 mins
Inspire courage: +3 to attack & damage, +4 to save vs fear & charms, 1 min from Lingering song
Inspire competence: +2 to most skill checks (allies only)

Final position: F08

Bat
  [Free] Squeak, spot? nope, Listen? no way!
  [Move] Move to F08 (flying at 10')
  [Standard]Depends, is Cathain detected?

  AC (Touch AC): 16 (16)

  Damage Taken:
  Damage Dealt:
Final position: F08

Cathain had noticed the pattern the bat and its master used to find her and so she played on the hunter's most treasured virtue: Patience. Her bow ready she waited...

Round 9:

  [Free] Assign Dodge vs. Quinlan
  [Move] to? Move Silently 32. Hide 39.
  [Standard] ready action

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 36/healed 29/current 7pts [DR2/- 8pts of 30 absorbed (Ironguard Crystal)]
  Damage Dealt: 10

Effects:

 - Blurr, 20% miss chance, 3 mins.
 - Listen bonus +10, 1 hour.
 - Blindfighting feat: Keeps dex to AC in melee.

Final position ?

Quinlan keeps moving around the arena, wondering when/if the stealthy fighter will ever show up again.

Round 8:
  [Swift]
  [Free] Can't see or hear you
  [Move] Move to J06 (unless interrupted)
  [Standard]Ready action
  [Immediate]

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken: 0 (10 healed)
  Damage Dealt: 44

Effects:
+2 Natural AC, 40 mins
Inspire courage: +3 to attack & damage, +4 to save vs fear & charms, 1 min from Lingering song
Inspire competence: +2 to most skill checks (allies only)

Final position: J06

Bat
  [Free] Squeak, No reason to roll
  [Move] Move to L06 (flying at 10')
  [Standard]Depends, is Cathain detected?

  AC (Touch AC): 16 (16)

  Damage Taken:
  Damage Dealt:
Final position: L06

This is your round 10, btw :)

As you round the corner [F06] with your flying pet an arrow strikes the bat from the air and you notice Cathain standing on top of one of the shelves, short bow aimed in your direction...

Readied action: Attack bat, 16 - hit for 4pts of damage.

Cathain is on the shelf separating L06/L07, 20ft up. - I didn't roll for climbing (DC10) since she's got auto success.

The bat gives out a final squeak before disappearing to whatever realm it was summoned from. It had served its purpose though, as Quinlan does spot Cathain, perched on top of the shelf a distance away. The song already on his lips, Quinlan starts singing:
Hello Darkness my old friend, I come to talk with you again...

The strange and intriguing melody catches Cathain's attention...

OOC: Readied action: Fascinate. Will save DC 19 or be fascinated.

ooc: I don't think that will work. "...The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working...." I count a duel to the death as a danger that is distracting enough to keep her senses keen.

Cathain heard the music and felt her heart falling for it but then she pulled herself together, this was a fight, a duel to the death - she had just killed a bat, small as it had been, but it was a kill. Heart pounding she climbed down the other side of the shelf and dropped to the ground when she was half-way down. Quickly she left the center of the arena, where-to could only be guessed.

Round 10:

  [Free] Assign Dodge vs. Quinlan
  [Move] Climb down 10ft [counts as 40ft.Climb DC10, auto success.] Jump down 10ft, DC15 auto success, avoids falling damage.
  [Standard] to? Move Silently 26. Hide 23.

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 36/healed 29/current 7pts [DR2/- 8pts of 30 absorbed (Ironguard Crystal)]
  Damage Dealt: 10

Effects:

 - Blurr, 20% miss chance, 3 mins.
 - Listen bonus +10, 1 hour.
 - Blindfighting feat: Keeps dex to AC in melee.

Final position ?

I beg to differ. There are no obvious threats to you at this point: I do not have my bow readied, no one is poised to strike you and you have no allies either that are in mortal danger.
Sure we are in the arena, but we will be revived once this bout has been resolved.

This is still combat, or are you trying to win this with caresses and kisses? :P

I'm on the go now but there are some quite specific examples of what situations precludes the use of fascination. The way I read it there must be some very specific threats or dangers.

You're kidding me. 30 seconds ago you still tried putting an arrow into Cathain. Could we just continue?

Read the description carefully; distractions such as nearby combat or other dangers prevent this. There are no such distractions or dangers.

That's directed at your companions battling other oponents, not a one-on-one situation. Considering this a non-threatening situation is rediculous, any second Quinlan is putting a dagger or arrow into Cathain's back, that's NOT what I'm accepting as a peaceful opportunity to lure somebody into a false sense of security, regardless of what you are saying. Full stop.

Look, I'm not making this up, merely looking at what the rules actually say. If you look two paragraphs down it describes what interrupts the fascination, in quite a lot of detail. For example a ranged weapon has to be aimed at the fascinated creature, or a (melee) weapon drawn.


There are no distractions here, just you and me, so it will work. The second I make a threatening move towards you the fascination ends. By your logic the ability is worthless as it can only be used against commoners or similar creatures, never against monsters that quite reasonably would see the bard as a mortal threat. This is a powerful ability, and I firmly believe I have applied it correctly.

OOC: But let's look further:



At the least, I'd say that Quinlan is a potential threat, since you've been fighting only moments before. That would require a new check and save every round, I guess. If Quinlan has a weapon out or casts a spell, then he becomes an obvious threat, and it ends.

The other bit:

is debatable. Is there a nearby combat? Well, you are in one. Has it stopped? Not really. Is there a danger? Not at this exact moment but you can expect one. On the other hand, it is magic, so you could expect to override subtle dangers.

Frankly, Fascinate is not a battlefield ability, nor is it intended to work as one. It's for distracting guards and so on. Short of a calm emotions spell or the Bard spending the entire battle doing nothing hostile, I don't see how it could work here.

You can compromise with Quinlan being a potential threat as above, and Cathain playing dumb, if you both agree. However, I don't think Quinlan has anything he can do while singing anyway, apart from wasting time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:46, Sat 16 Apr 2011.

Sigh. The last line is in relation to distractions. The subject needs to have her attention focused on Quinlan for the ability to work; I'd say it is the case here. As long as I don't make anything threatening (like approaching) this will go on. For a potential threat I make a new perform check, allowing a new save.

Let me know what of the three or four conditions listed is not fulfilled for this to work? See you, see me, able to pay attention, and no distractions?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Sat 16 Apr 2011.

Quinlan still has his bow out, that's threat enough for me I would say. Come on, this IS combat, we're here to kill or subdue the other, there's no room to make friends.

I do have a point with this, can you please just roll the save?

no. - I quit. You win, I have no sense to insist stubbornly on my point of view.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:57, Sat 16 Apr 2011.

Quinlan notices his foe disappearing again, and pulls out a new bat. This one seems even dumber than the last and just hovers in the air while Quinlan tries to make it move.

Round 9:
  [Swift]
  [Free] Can't see or hear you
  [Move] Handle animal (10) fail
  [Standard]Pull out new animal (bat)
  [Immediate]

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken: 0 (10 healed)
  Damage Dealt: 44

Effects:
+2 Natural AC, 40 mins
Inspire courage: +3 to attack & damage, +4 to save vs fear & charms, 1 min from Lingering song

Final position: F06

Bat
  [Free] Squeak, No reason to roll
  [Move] None
  [Standard]Depends, is Cathain detected?

  AC (Touch AC): 16 (16)

  Damage Taken:
  Damage Dealt:
Final position: L06